News

Beach volleyball
19/03/2017

Lack of experience no problem for Canada's Gordon and Saxton

Sydney, Australia, March 19, 2017 - While it is still too early to describe them as a ‘dream pairing’, the early results would tend to indicate Canada’s Julie Gordon and Camille Saxton gel pretty well together on the beach volleyball court.

At just their second tournament together earlier this month they won gold at the World Tour event in Shepparton, and then this weekend, their third outing together, they won the Manly Beach FIVB World Tour title.

Saxton at full reach to receive the service.

“It’s been amazing, I think we are even more proud of this tournament than we were of Shepparton because we were put to the test a lot here,” Saxton said.

In Shepparton the Canadians didn't drop a set. They lost one solitary set in Manly, but also had to fight their way back into several matches after finding themselves trailing, sometimes by a lot.

And they had to get past the tournament top seeds, Louise Grice and Nikki Laird, in the semifinals at Manly, and did so in straight sets.

“We’re building and building, and every experience we really appreciate,” Gordon said.

“We’re still a young team, and it’s all coming down to maturity and having to deal with what we have to deal with.

“Every single match we’re looking for something new, and we’re learning so much about each other, and how we can rely on each other as a new team.”

Gordon and Saxton are hoping they can stay in Australia to compete in next weekend’s Australian Tour finals, also at Manly Beach. After that they’ve got a busy timetable pencilled in, beginning in China next month.

“We’re looking forward to playing in a three-star event in Xiamen, so this is exactly what we want,” Gordon said.

“Just building on each tournament and getting stronger competition, so we’re happy with how it’s going.

“Our defence, our timing is amazing together and we have really good chemistry. But we are always looking to make things better, so we are very excited to see where we can go.”